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Проект ENGAGE

https://engage.edu.az/

Project Name: Enhancing Sustainable Entrepreneurial Ecosystem in Higher Education of Azerbaijan
Project Acronym: ENGAGE
 
The ENGAGE project is designed to revolutionize the entrepreneurial landscape within Azerbaijani higher education by addressing critical gaps in the integration of entrepreneurship into university governance, management, and curriculum. With the growing recognition of entrepreneurship as a key driver of economic and social sustainability, this project seeks to align Azerbaijani higher education institutions with global standards and practices in entrepreneurial education, drawing on the European Union's extensive experience and frameworks, particularly the EntreComp Framework.
 
Azerbaijan, traditionally reliant on its hydrocarbon sector, is in the midst of a significant economic transformation. This shift is driven by the need to diversify the economy, reduce oil dependency, and foster a vibrant, innovative non-oil sector. The Azerbaijani government has articulated its commitment to this transformation through strategic initiatives like the "Vision 2020" and the "Strategic Road Map for the National Economy," which emphasize the importance of entrepreneurship and innovation. Despite these efforts, higher education institutions in Azerbaijan continue to face challenges in cultivating an entrepreneurial mindset and fostering innovation.
 
The ENGAGE project responds directly to these challenges by creating a sustainable entrepreneurial ecosystem within the country's higher education sector. The project is fully aligned with the objectives of the EU's Strand 2 - Partnerships for Transformation in Higher Education, which seeks to foster innovation, entrepreneurship, and university-industry collaboration.
 
The ENGAGE project addresses the critical need for a systemic and institutionalized approach to entrepreneurship in Azerbaijani higher education. Unlike many European countries that have successfully integrated entrepreneurship into their higher education systems, Azerbaijan lacks a cohesive framework or strategy to foster entrepreneurial activities within universities. The project will bridge this gap by establishing or enhancing Entrepreneurship and Innovation Centers across 11 higher education institutions in Azerbaijan, spanning various regions including Baku, Ganja, Nakchivan, and Mingachevir.
 
Key objectives of the ENGAGE project include: 
 
to boost entrepreneurship capacity of staff and student by establishing or developing an Entrepreneurship and Innovation Centers within 11 higher-education institutions; 
To prepare benchmark reports which  willwhich will include in depth analysis of entrepreneurial capacity of Azerbaijan universities towards increasing the capacity to innovate, recognize and create opportunities at national and international level 
To invest into creation and sustenance of entrepreneurship-oriented universities through integration of entrepreneurship in  curricula and teaching methodologies with the goal to advance understanding of entrepreneurial spirit/culture as well as to promote practical/hands-on approach that would lead to experience-based start-up and spinoff mind-set and skills 
To increase the entrepreneurship activities in nationwide by enhancing the capacity of national center for entrepreneurship in education  and establishing National entrepreneurial university award  
To provide universities with systematic strategy and a framework in order to assess them to integrate the entrepreneurship in governance and management  to assess and effectively develop the individual and institutional competences to improve entrepreneurial mind-set at national wide.
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